Whats your best post frontal cold weather tactic

[FIN-S-R]

What do you do in high pressure post fontal conditions with 42 degree water to raise a strike. Do you finnesse cover, cover water, jerbait it? This weather pattern has always presented me with problems during the winter time, so share your secrets.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hot Chocolate, couch,girl friend and Movie on the DVD ;D

[Catt]

Deep water structure with Texas Rig, Carolina Rig, Jig-N-Craw, or Deep Crank Baits

[CJ]

Even on the worst days there will be more than one way that will catch fish.The first lure I pick up will be a jig.Alot of times I find fish hugging the bottom,in or close to cover.I definantly will slow down my presentation.

What I may concentrate on is locating deep fish for a post cold front,but alot of that would depend on the staging point of the fish.If they haven't started prespawn staging then I'll fish the deep points at the mouths of bays and may end up throwing a deep crankbait,jerkbait,jig,or tube.

[FIN-S-R]

Hot Chocolate, couch,girl friend and Movie on the DVD ;D

I had considered this, but I figured the wife would get hacked...just kidding hunny!!!

[Astro]

Catt I see you are from TB area. I fished there for that first time last March and have another trip this March planned. Last year the lake was

way down 6 ft. at the time we were there still did good fishing but was not easy getting around but made it ok. The question I have is I C the lake

came up to full pool couple days ago and is down a ft. again how come

and will they let it back to full pool by March or what. Just wondering about

lake level and what controls it other that Rain.. I agree on the CR for cold

fronts love the CR. Tnx

[Catt]

The Sabine River Authority list full pool at 172 however the normal lake level is 169-170; the reason for the changes is SRA has both generators working 24/7. The lake level is completely controlled by the SRA and their contracts to generate electricity. Will the level be at full pool by March God only knows because the SRA will continue to generate until the meet their goals or the lake level falls below 165.

I can tell you after 35 years on the lake it will be high for the spawn (late Feb-April), it always is. So if you are planning to fish spawning bass be ready to fish thick buck brush and button willows.

[CraigBaugher]

Cold front tatics change throughout the year, water types, and regions, as do most fishing tatics.

However, think this way and you will have a clue.  Winter deepwater main lake strucuture, Spring deepwater secondary points and shoreline fast breaks, Summer deepwater deepwater main to secondary to shallow water (cool water) weeds holding tight to cover. Fall secondaries and cove channels, then back to winter.

Simplistic, oh yeah.  Its just a basic guide.  Slow presentations with jigs working best in cool to cold water, suspending cranks in warmer water, and spinnerbaits yo-yo'd in the fall are all good.

Just a quick answer

[Curado]

I agree with everyone else in fishing deep water structure with a jig or a grub.

[roadwarrior]

Live bait.

Big, fat, lively shiners on a split shot rig. #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks. #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft fished with spinning tackle. If smallmouth or spots are options, that's the ticket.

[5bass]

With water in the low 40's and after a cold front,I'd probably have a jig and a jerkbait tied on and I'd be fishing points.

[craigaria]

Live bait.

Big, fat, lively shiners on a split shot rig. #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks. #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft fished with spinning tackle. If smallmouth or spots are options, that's the ticket.

Live bait definately works.

[bass109]

Live bait

[justfishin]

Points are my first choice in a lake. Especially the ones with a lot of trash or grass on them. Also, creek channels with cover in them that you can pick up on the Depth Finder like grass, rocks, wood or even a supple drop in depth. They are holding pretty tight to cover in post front conditions most of the time. My first choice is a jig or a tube. A 4" deadringer is a good choice as well. I like to see 12-20 feet of water on my depth finder under these conditions, especially where I live. I am really seeing the difference in regional fishing on this thread. Up north in Western Maryland where I live it is practically a sin to use live bait for bass. Its not a bad thing so, don't jump me my friends, its just a regional thing.

[MALTESE FALCON]

I don't have much success with cold fronts, but when I do get fish, it's usually with live shiners on a split shot rig.

Falcon

[Rattlinrogue]

I'll fish jigs,C-rigs,or drop shot rigs on deep structure like everybody else.I also like to find wood cover and flip/pitch jigs in it.I like to pitch a spinnerbait into that same woody cover,banging it into and over the cover,stopping it to let it flutter when it bangs or is pulled over a limb,trunk,etc.

[Guest avid]

I like pitchin a pegged 1 oz of higher weight to a tube or beaver right into the thickest cover.

It's a real fun way to fish.  Horsing em out of that tests both man and beast.

[dink]

A C. rig is essential for me in these conditions.  Although, it seems when the bite is darn near impossible, I always gravitate to the heaviest cover and pick it apart flippin' and pitchin'.  I really think confidence is more important at these times than any other.

[jomatty]

youll have a hard time getting the jig n pig out of my hand in this scenario.  it is one of the rare times when i will often go to real pork as well.  sometimes when things are really nasty ill go to a hair jig with real pork.  that is my "oh man its tough set up".

im not an especially talented winter fishermen however so take this with a grain of salt.

[bocabasser]

i go snook and tarpon fishing. forget going fresh when it involves that much work. if it is a tourny though--a big 12 inch worm moving an inch a minute.

[FIN-S-R]

I have found a feast or famine kind of deal with winter fishing, that is to say i have never tried live bait for bass, so it could be a feast feast scenario..but I dont know. I am most interested in artificials...nothing against live bait, but i ussually dont go there except for the big blues. The onset of low pressure pre-frontal crappy weather seems to be magic, but, it seems in a high pressure post frontal condition with cold water the fish simply disappear, I cant seem to find them on the bottum on deep structure, or on shallower cover/structure combos, say 8-10 ft ranges, either. Twice I have hit it pretty big during the calm after the front with jerkbaits in 4-8ft on south facing rip rap. This tells me that the warming effects of the sun could have some effect, but it doesnt seem to be consistant. Any clues to this mystery?